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[Illustration: "'_Cast me not off in the time of old age, forsake me not when my strength faileth._'"]
NEW YORK THE OUTING PUBLISHING COMPANY 1906
Copyright, 1903, 1905, by CHAS. SCRIBNER'S SONS Copyright, 1904, by THE CENTURY CO. Copyright, 1905, by THE OUTING PUBLISHING CO. Copyright, 1906, by MCCLURE, PHILLIPS & CO.
Copyright, 1906, by THE OUTING PUBLISHING CO.
Entered at Stationers' Hall, London, England
"Cast me not off in the time of old age, forsake me not when my strength faileth." _Frontispiece_
"You are a disgrace to Yale, all of you." 45
Jack Hasting's mother cannot find her boy in the crew 74
As he rose the jagged timber was hurled straight at him 286
"But I'm not going to stand for this sort of thing," angrily protested young Valentine as he shoved the letter at Port Captain Graham of the Palmetto Line. "The old man may be as good a sailor as you say he is, but it's high time we set him ashore on a half-pay pension. Why, he's making our service ridiculous. Read it out to Mr. Holmes."
The Port Captain fidgeted and awkwardly wiped his glasses, for the task was unwelcome:
DEAR VALENTINE: Congratulations on your decision to mix up in the business of the old company. It seems a hefty responsibility for so young a man, but blood will tell. By the way, here is something for you to investigate while the new broom is sweeping the cobwebs away. I went South on your _Suwannee_ a month ago, and have the honor to inform you that her captain is a venerable nuisance, and loose in his top story. He is a religious crank, clean dippy on it, held prayer-meetings until half the passengers were driven on deck, and had a lot of hysterical women flocking around him for two different services on Sunday. The _Suwannee_ is a gospel ark in command of a praying skipper, and if only the sanctified are going to enjoy traveling in her, you will lose a lot of business. I reckon it's time the line had an overhauling, so good luck to you.